Petunia plant named ‘Balcushlu’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Petunia  plant named ‘Balcushlu’, characterized by its dark violet-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and vigorous, mounded-spreading growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Petunia×hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Balcushlu’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant botanically known as Petunia×hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balcushlu’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Arroyo Grande, Calif. during May 2012. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Petunia cultivars with single-type flowers, unique flower coloration and patterns, and vigorous, mounded-spreading growth habit.

The new Petunia cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is SUPERTUNIA Indigo Charm ‘USTUN29801’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,883, characterized by its dark violet-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and vigorous, low mounding and outwardly spreading growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is Suncatcher Midnight Blue ‘Balsunmibu’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,415, characterized by its deep violet-blue colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, semi-upright growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during April 2013 in a controlled environment in Arroyo Grande, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since April 2013 in Arroyo Grande, Calif.; and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balcushlu’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant:

-   -   1. Dark violet-colored flowers;     -   2. Dark green-colored foliage; and     -   3. Vigorous, mounded-spreading growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in having larger diameter flowers and a slightly different shade of violet flower color. Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the male parent primarily in having smaller diameter flowers, a slightly different shade of violet flower color, and greater growth vigor.

Of the many commercially available Petunia cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is BLANKET ‘Midnight Velvet’, not patented. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Midnight Velvet’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a flower color that is         lighter than plants of ‘Midnight Velvet’; and     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have a different petal apex than         plants of ‘Midnight Velvet’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balcushlu’. The plants were grown in 4.5-inch pots for 7 weeks in a greenhouse in West Chicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balcushlu’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of ‘Balcushlu’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2007 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in November 2015 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in West Chicago, Ill. in 4.5-inch pots for 7 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures averaged 65° F. (18° C.) during the day and approximately 50° F. (10° C.) during the night. No supplemental lighting was used. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia×hybrida cultivar Balcushlu. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—SUPERTUNIA Indigo Charm ‘USTUN29801’, U.S.             Plant Pat. No. 22,883.         -   Male parent.—Suncatcher Midnight Blue ‘Balsunmibu’, U.S.             Plant Pat. No. 22,415. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 6 to 9 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 28             days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 6 to 8 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in an 11 cm pot.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Vigorous,             mounded-spreading.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 12.5 cm. Width: Approximately 66.0 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching improves basal             branching. Quantity of main branches per plant:             Approximately 5.         -   Branch.—Strength: Moderate. Length: Approximately 35.0 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 4.0 mm. Length of central internode:             Approximately 1.1 cm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent             with a mixture of long and short hairs. Gland color:             Colorless. Color of young and mature stems: 144A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:             Approximately 21. Fragrance: Slight. Form: Simple.             Arrangement on flowering stem: Alternate.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Acute angle to stem. Shape: Ovate. Margin:             Entire. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Venation pattern:             Pinnate. Length of mature leaf: Approximately 5.5 cm. Width             of mature leaf: Approximately 4.0 cm. Texture of upper and             lower surfaces: Moderately glandular pubescent. Gland color:             Colorless. Color of upper surface of young and mature             foliage: 137A with venation of 144B to indistinguishable.             Color of lower surface of young and mature foliage: Closest             to 138B with venation of 144D to indistinguishable.         -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 9.0 mm. Width: Approximately             3.0 mm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent with a mixture             of long and short hairs. Gland color: Colorless. Color:             144D. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balcushlu’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in             greenhouse environment.         -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately             10 to 12 days. -   Flower description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Simple, salverform. Quantity per             plant: Approximately 12. Fragrance: Slight.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 2 to 3 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity per             plant: Approximately 4.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Oblong. Length:             Approximately 3.5 cm. Diameter at apex: Approximately             8.0 mm. Diameter at base: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture:             Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless. Color             of petal portion: 86A with venation of N186A. Color of tube:             86A with venation of N186A.         -   Corolla.—Diameter: Approximately 5.3 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: 5, fused to form a tube. Shape: Obovate.             Appearance: Iridescent. Margin: Entire, wavy. Apex:             Cuspidate. Length from tube: Approximately 2.3 cm. Length of             free portion: Approximately 1.0 cm. Width: Approximately             2.8 cm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower             surface: Sparsely glandular pubescent. Gland color:             Colorless. Color of upper surface when first open: Closest             to but darker than N88A, venation of N92A. Color of lower             surface when first and fully open: Closest to between N87A             and N87B, venation of N186A. Color of upper surface when             fully open: Closest to N88A with overtones of N87A, venation             of N92A.         -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 3.0 cm. Diameter at             distal end: Approximately 8.0 mm. Diameter at proximal end:             Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Glabrous.             Texture of outer surface: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland             color: Colorless. Color of inner surface: N88C with venation             of N92A. Color of outer surface: 86A with venation of N186A.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5, fused at base. Shape:             Linear. Apex: Acute. Length: Approximately 2.3 cm. Width:             Approximately 4.0 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:             Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless. Color             of upper surface: 137A. Color of lower surface: 138A with             144A at base.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: Acute angle to             stem. Length: Approximately 3.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately             2.0 mm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent with a mixture             of long and short hairs. Gland color: Colorless. Color: 144A             tinted 187A with sun.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 5,             basifixed. Stamen length: Approximately 1.8 cm. Filament             length of fixed portion: Approximately 6.0 mm. Filament             color: NN155A with an overlay of 86A that fades towards             base. Anther shape: Bilobed. Anther length: Approximately             1.0 mm. Anther color: 92C. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen             color: 92D. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil             length: Approximately 1.9 cm. Stigma shape: Funnel. Stigma             length: Approximately 1.0 mm. Stigma color: 146D with funnel             portion tinted with 86A. Style length: Approximately 1.5 cm.             Style color: 145D. Ovary length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Ovary             color: 144A. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Petunia has not been observed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant named ‘Balcushlu’, substantially as herein illustrated and described. 